The Art of Displacement photography exhibition

Posted on November 13, 2013

The Art of Displacement is a new exhibition by dance photographer Simon Tomkinson, running at London’s Silverprint Gallery until December 12.

Simon Tomkinson, who specialises in photographing dance and people, shot the exhibition photographs in collaboration with parkour performance company The Urban Playground Team. Uniquely, they turn parkour (also known as “l’art du déplacement”) into an indoor performance art. The pictures show Tomkinson’s interest in new ways to show the dynamic nature of dance. All the effects in the photographs were created entirely in camera.

The pictures were taken at Pavilion Dance South West. Ian Abbott, Pavilion’s artistic producer, said: “As part of our artists’ residency programme, we like to match dance companies with artists who we think will have a great synergy. Simon and The Urban Playground Team really clicked, and the innovative effect that Simon has created with his art work, that brings a 2D parkour image into 3D, is remarkable.”

As a dance photographer, Tomkinson has been commissioned by a wide range of companies, including Birmingham Royal Ballet and choreographers at The Place. See www.simontomkinson.com for more information.

Zoë was born in Edinburgh, and saw her first dance performances at the Festival there. She is the dance critic of The Independent, and has also written for The Independent on Sunday, The Scotsman and Dancing Times. In 2002, she received her doctorate from the University of York for a thesis on “Nationhood and epic romance: Ariosto, Sidney, Spenser”. She is the author of The Royal Ballet: 75 Years and The Ballet Lover’s Companion.